The Necromancer Who Was Despised

That’s right.

As much as I saved her, no, even more so, Athena will do things for me.

“Still, thank you.”

“Yeah.”

After that, Tia said nothing.

In the meantime, I interpreted the curse that had been cast on her through the part of her that was touching me.

‘It’s terribly dirty.’

To be honest, it’s amazing that I survived a year in this body.

The curse itself was simple.

It just weakens the body.

However, the range was wide.

It seemed to weaken not only the muscles but also the immune system itself.

‘I must have died pretty terribly last time.’

As it was Athena’s collar, she must have received a lot of care, but there was a reason she didn’t survive.

‘Still, the curse itself is not impossible.’

It just takes a long time.

Besides, it’s impossible at my current level.

‘But it’s important that I can fix it.’

If she knew this, Athena would have no choice but to be more attached to me.

‘Even a mediocre black magician can’t cure it. The temple’s diagnosis was correct.’

You have to be a high priest to even discover it.

Healing is another matter, but I don’t even think a high priest could have healed it.

‘Her body can’t handle it.’

It’s hard to get this kind of curse.

‘I’ll definitely have to check it out later.’

I needed to find out where she got this curse from.

My house is starting to appear in the distance.

At the entrance, a woman was moving around anxiously.

It was Athena.

‘She really cares about her.’

I feel anew that Tia is valuable.

“Tia!”

Athena, who had found us, ran quickly towards us.

“Unni!”

Tia responded with a bright smile.

I immediately let go of Tia, and Athena hugged her tightly.

Damn it

The two of them hugged each other and cried for a long time, but they couldn’t stay there forever.

I handed the slave document to Athena, and she immediately tore it to pieces.

I took the two of them to the warehouse, and used the tools used to make traps to cut off Tias collar.

Usually, it’s not easy to cut off a collar like this.

It requires delicate work, but with my senses emphasized by gaining magic, it wasn’t something I couldn’t do.

“The slave seal is… .”

“Gone. “I was lucky.”

In fact, it was a complete liberation.

Athena was very happy about that fact.

But that joy was short-lived, she belatedly realized that Tia’s condition was very bad.

She realized that it wasn’t just a lack of nutrients because she had been captured by slave traders, but that she was actually sick.

Tia didn’t want to worry Athena, but I obediently answered Athena’s gaze looking at me and told her that she was sick.

“I’m okay, Unni. I thought I’d never see you again… .”

“It’s okay. It’ll be okay. You’re not a slave anymore, so I’ll earn money and take you to a doctor, no, a priest. Did Unni awaken mana too? Just hold on a little longer and I’ll take you to the temple. “I promise.”

“Yes. Thank you, Unni.”

Tia didn’t bother to reveal that she had already been to the temple.

I also thought that it would only prolong the conversation if I revealed it now, so I told the two of them to eat something.

Athena wanted to feed Tia more because she was eating so little, but I stopped her.

“I’m full, Unni.”

“But you only ate that much…” .”

“I’ll get sick if I eat too fast. Slowly. We have plenty of time now.”

It’s better to increase the amount of food gradually.

Tia looked tired, so I suggested she rest, and Tia nodded as if she was a little embarrassed.

‘I guess I’m still uncomfortable.’

Well, it’s understandable.

Honestly, I thought this level of distance was enough.

After all, it’s Athena who will be acting with me, not Tia.

As soon as Tia went to rest, I called Athena to my room separately.

As soon as she entered my room, she thanked me profusely.

“Thank you. “For keeping your promise.”

“That was the condition of the contract. Don’t tell Tia that I’m a black magician. And make sure she never goes near the basement.”

There was nothing good about knowing.

Athena nodded at my words.

“Of course. But… how much did you hear? I’ll pay you back.

In response to her, I shook my head.

“I’ll take care of that. Don’t betray me.”

“I will never. I even swore in front of Mana?”

“Just remember that. “More importantly.”

I immediately got to the main point.

“Your younger brother’s illness. It’s not an ordinary illness.”

“… “What?”

“I heard that you’ve already been to the temple. You were told to find a high priest, right?”

Athena’s face turned serious.

“If it’s a high priest… .”

“No matter how much of a Mana user you are, it’s not easy to meet them. They think that you won’t live long there.”

“But… well. You’re really lucky, you know.”

It was already the second time, no, the third time if you count the fact that meeting me was lucky in a way.

The second time was when Mana awakened.

“Lucky? Don’t tell me… .”

“That’s not an illness.”

“Then?”

“It’s a curse. “I think it’s a result of coming into contact with a cursed object.”

“… You’re saying that I’m lucky because it’s a curse, not an illness? Are you kidding me?”

She was grateful to me just a moment ago, but her expression changed instantly as if my words had touched a nerve.

“Well, that’s fortunate. “Who do you think I am?”

If it were an ordinary illness, I wouldn’t be able to do anything about it.

If it were an illness caused by black magic, I could somehow treat it, but ordinary illnesses are not my concern.

Soon, her expression brightened as she realized that I was a black magician.

“So you can help me?”

“It’s impossible right now. But I can slow down the progression within a month.”

“A complete cure… .”

“It will be possible once I’ve grown more. However, it will take a long time.”

“It doesn’t matter. As long as you can cure him. … Thank you. “I’m sorry for yelling.”

I didn’t mind that. It’s not like she stabbed me with a knife.

“I’m going to be very busy from now on. I need to start training in earnest in addition to taking care of Tia.”

“Training?”

“Duh. You’re not going to become a magician, are you?”

In the first place, one can never become a magician without a teacher.

All I know is black magic, so I can’t teach her, and above all, she has more talent as a warrior than as a magician.

Moreover, being a magician costs a lot of money.

“I’m more suited to using my body than my head… .”

“Then you need to learn Mana Breathing Technique as well as Aura Enhancement Technique. “I know some, so learn at least those for now.”

“… You’re going to teach me Mana Breathing Technique and Aura Enhancement Technique?”

Athena seemed to know what those two were.

“It’s not that great.”

I used to use this in my previous life. The problem is that it’s not that efficient…

‘Mana Breathing Technique is for aesthetics, and Aura Cultivation Technique is third-rate garbage.’

Still, it’s better than nothing. I can switch to something better once I get my hands on it.

‘I happen to know a place where I can get my hands on some good stuff.’

Third-rate isn’t bad for building a foundation.

‘She’s talented, so she might need an intermediate step…’

If that’s the case, there’s another way.

‘This is also an aristocratic family, so they should have something better than what I used to use.’

If it’s too different from what I used to use, it will be difficult, but with Athy’s talent, she’ll be able to adapt well enough.

‘Well, Cooman must have something, too.’

Athy used Aura in her previous life, so it’s likely she has it.

I just need to compare it to something better and use that.

‘I can’t get my hands on the best right now.’

This is an unavoidable reality.

I will grow in the meantime.

“Why are you doing so much for me?”

Athy asked me then.

“Even though I’m from a tribe, I know the value of Mana Breathing Technique and Aura Cultivation Technique.”

“I told you it’s not that great. To be honest, they’re both third-rate. I’ll get you something better later.”

“Even ordinary civilians can’t get their hands on those things in their entire lives.”

That’s true.

“And even if Tia’s body wasn’t in good condition, a slave wouldn’t be that cheap. It must have cost at least a few dozen silvers, right?”

She knew more than I thought, for a tribeswoman.

“I hate to say this… but I was going to kill you. I probably would have killed you if you had been weak.”

I thought so.

‘Of course, that was just wishful thinking.’

Objectively speaking, even though Athy had awakened Mana, it was questionable whether she could defeat Nenson, let alone Cooman.

Even though Athy had awakened Mana, her physical abilities were at the level of a low-ranking mercenary, and she had very little experience fighting humans.

Nenson couldn’t use Mana, but he was a professional human hunter.

Furthermore, this area was Nenson’s backyard, so it couldn’t be said for sure that Nenson would lose even if he couldn’t use Mana.

‘Mana is a great power, but it’s not an omnipotent power.’

That’s not to say that Athy had no chance of winning. For example, I couldn’t sense her before she made a sound.

‘Her chances of winning… are 50/50, to be honest.’

That’s about it, considering all the possibilities.

Cooman is out of the question, though.

“But you saved my life, saved my brother, and are even trying to raise me. Why on earth?”

“Because I need you.”

“Even if you’re a dark mage, someone like you could recruit someone better than me. I’ve heard that there are dark mages who work openly. Even if you’re not at that level yet, you’ll definitely reach that point soon enough.”

That’s true.

“Even if you had turned me into an undead… .”

“You truly undervalue yourself.”

“Ahaha. You must think I’m a fool because I’m from a tribe of fire mages. I heard that all mercenaries who are high-level or higher are mana users. Those people don’t have good credit. You should be able to be a comrade with those people, right?”

She quickly continued speaking.

“Don’t say no. Even though you’re a dark magician, you found a curse that even a high-level priest would have to discover in a few hours. You wouldn’t say that someone with that much power could only be a high-level mercenary, would you?”

It seemed that the confident attitude I had shown her had also influenced her judgment.

‘She’s not as dumb as I thought.’

This was also good for me. A smart comrade is better than a dumb comrade.